On December 2, 2023, the sub-forum "Biodiversity and Modern Agricultural Development Forum" of the 2023 Tengchong Scientists Forum was held. The forum focused on sharing new ideas and methods for contemporary biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization, highlighting the role of technology in empowering innovative development in modern agriculture. The forum was attended by Academician Wu Weihua, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Forum Chairman and Academician Xu Zhihong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ren Junhao, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Yunnan Provincial People's Congress, who delivered speeches.

The event saw participation from over 300 individuals, including Academician Zhang Yaping, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, co-chairs Academicians Li Jiayang, Xie Hua’an, and Hong Deyuan, other academicians and well-known experts, leaders from research institutions, universities, major biological breeding and agricultural product processing enterprises, and association representatives.

Ren Junhao:He emphasized that biodiversity protection is crucial for addressing climate change, eradicating poverty, and achieving sustainable development. Yunnan has made significant efforts in ecological protection and the development of plateau-specific agriculture, offering valuable practical experience. He expressed hope that the forum would provide attendees with deeper insights into Yunnan’s practices in biodiversity and modern agriculture, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Xu Zhihong:He highlighted that the beauty of Yunnan's biodiversity is recognized globally. This forum aimed to delve into topics such as the development of ecological grasslands and livestock, food processing, and more, fostering exchanges between entrepreneurs and scientists, promoting the application of technological achievements, ensuring food security, and providing new methods for biodiversity conservation, agricultural innovation, and rural revitalization.

Exploring New Approaches for Modern Agriculture in Yunnan

Gao Wangsheng, Director of the National Agricultural Science and Technology Strategy Research Institute at China Agricultural University:** He presented a keynote report on "Strategic Issues in Building a Strong Agricultural Country with Chinese Characteristics." Gao introduced three typical models of strong agricultural nations—comprehensive developed, industry-coordinated, and technology-led. He analyzed Yunnan's strategic positioning in national agriculture and proposed specific recommendations for Yunnan to become a strong agricultural province, including accelerating rural modernization, prioritizing ecological and healthy agriculture, promoting agricultural and rural technological innovation, and establishing a focus on agricultural biotechnology.

Chen Xiaoya, Academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences:In her keynote report on "Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Medicinal Plant Resources," she reviewed the status of medicinal plant resources in China and addressed the issue of resource shortages due to overexploitation. She recommended promoting artificial cultivation, reducing dependence on wild resources, strengthening in-situ conservation through nature reserves, and ex-situ conservation using germplasm resource banks, leveraging modern biotechnology to innovate germplasm resources.

Zhao Chunjiang, Academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering:In his keynote report on "The Current Situation and Future of Smart Agriculture in China," Zhao compared the smart agriculture layouts in the United States, the EU, and Japan. He proposed that China should focus on key smart agricultural technologies, including agricultural sensors and information collection systems, agricultural satellite remote sensing and drone systems, agricultural big data and artificial intelligence, agricultural models and algorithms, and agricultural intelligence.

Focus on New Solutions for Modern Agricultural Innovation

The "Biodiversity and Modern Agricultural Development Forum" included three thematic forums. These focused on biodiversity protection and modern agricultural innovation through collaborative development, discussing topics such as modern biological breeding, germplasm resource innovation, tropical agriculture, ecological grassland and livestock development, new food resource development, and food processing.

Biodiversity Conservation Thematic Forum:This forum featured presentations from:

- Academician Ouyang Zhiyun, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discussing China's biodiversity patterns and the national park system.

- Researcher Lai Ren, Kunming Institute of Zoology, on the survival adaptation mechanisms based on animal toxins and innovative drug research.

- Researcher Zhao Xinquan, Qinghai University, on enhancing both grassland biodiversity protection and grassland animal husbandry production functions.

- Academician Sun Hang, Kunming Institute of Botany, on the current status and conservation of plant diversity on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Modern Agricultural Innovation Development Thematic Forum:This forum included presentations from:

- Academician Deng Zixin

- Academician Xie Mingyong

- Professor Liu Chunming, Beijing Agricultural University

- Academician Huang Sanwen

- Researcher Hu Lisong, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences

- Professor Li Hong, Yunnan Agricultural University

- Researcher Zhang Yuebin, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences

- Professors Sheng Jun and Wei Hongjiang, Yunnan Agricultural University

They discussed topics such as synthetic biology, new rice variety breeding, prospects for tropical agriculture, plant-based lactic acid bacteria fermented foods, Yunnan coffee and tea industry development, and the development of medical miniature pigs in Yunnan.

Scientist + Entrepreneur Innovation Cooperation Dialogue:At this session, CEOs and presidents from six major companies, including Dabeinong Group, Kenfeng Seeds, and BUHLER, engaged in discussions with academicians and experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, and the Yunnan Institute of Grassland and Animal Science. They explored overcoming barriers between technology and industry, creating multi-mode industry-academia-research collaborations driven by results, demand, and strategy, and achieving a win-win situation for modern agricultural and rural revitalization.